After limping through the month of May with four points in four matches and getting knocked out of the Asian Champions League, Beijing Guoan got off to a good start in June, easily defeating Liaoning Whowin.

In one fell swoop, the club almost totaled its five goals scored in May by putting four on the board last night on the way to a victory that has become all too rare for the capital side. After an early first half goal by Freddie Kanoute, Joffre Guerron, Shao Jiayi, and Zhang Xizhe added second half goals. Despite an excellent strike rate, Liaoning’s foreign pair of Edu and James Chamanga were never able to get going.

Ten minutes in, Zhang Xizhe split the defense with a pass that found Kanoute, who rounded the keeper and knocked it into the open net. For much of the season, Kanoute has been dropping back into the midfield, so it was great seeing him play like a true striker and creating chances. Guoan continually pressured the Liaoning defense, often through Zhang Xizhe, who gave a particularly impressive performance, but newly named national teamer Yang Shanping was deserving of praise for the Northeastern tigers.

The game was still wide open as the match entered the last twenty minutes, but a Wang Hao cross found Guerron, who couldn’t get a foot on it but moved the ball forward and Shao Jiayi was more decisive, putting Guoan up by two. Guerron would get one of his own minutes later when his speed allowed him to sprint past the defender and chip the keeper for a 3-0 lead.

It was Guerron’s speed that once again hurt Liaoning in the final moments, a pinpoint Zhang pass set him free and defender Shavkat Mullajanov took him down in the box for a penalty kick. Zhang stepped up and took it, this time with no argument from Guerron, and made it four for the Men in Green.

Guerron’s performance will cause many of the Guoan fans who were questioning his importance to the team to have second thoughts. A big win for the Beijingers and a great way to go into the international break.